Chapter 274: Sweet Bread
Cicero was not foolish. His conversation with Corleon was not only an expression of the sorrow in his heart but also words directed at the seven remaining personal guards of Pegira.
These guards had sworn loyalty to Pegira, and after Pegira’s death, even though they had not yet performed the loyalty ceremony for Cicero, they still needed to understand the choices of both Pegira and Cicero, and carry them out.
Unless they chose betrayal.
Cicero did not wish for those who had followed his father into battle until the very end to simply die in vain.
However, after saying all this, when Cicero chose the burial ground for his father, he ultimately gave up the Burial Mechanism or the Hall of Heroes and instead chose the castle he had built for Pegira.
“In the depths beneath the Castle of Lundex lies the Royal Tomb. I hope to bury Father there,” Cicero said.
Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the seven personal guards visibly relaxed.
If Pegira were buried within the Church, the political implications would have been immense.
Agamemnon also felt regret. Cicero’s choice might lead to the deaths of many people in the future.
Corleon responded, “You are his child. Naturally, you may decide where he will rest for eternity.”
Cicero lowered his head deeply and said nothing more.
Corleon’s voice rose once more as he said, “Agamemnon, when the New Year’s Bells toll, I shall be crowned as the Pope. You must spread this message across every corner of the Three Principalities of Greenwood. Ensure that all nobles gather at the Great Church of York City, to witness my coronation ceremony and to listen to the will of the Lord that I shall proclaim.”
The New Year’s Bells were still nearly two months away. Spreading the news was not difficult. The lands of the Principality of Corlay were already emptied of life. The nobles of the former Principality of Patlin posed no major issue either. Councilor Julian had already marched from the Diocese of Rod into those territories. Even those who had once followed Pegira to break through the Principality of Ackerman and later returned would now need to submit themselves to a new order.
The Principality of Ackerman, however, posed greater difficulty. That land had been shattered by Pegira’s campaigns, and some nobles of the Ackerman Family bloodline still raised banners declaring hostility toward him.
But there were ways. Agamemnon rose, bowed slightly, and said, “Your will.”
Corleon gave no further response.
Agamemnon then raised his head, walked over to Cicero, patted him on the shoulder, and said, “Rather than grieving, I believe it is best to let Lord Pegira rest in peace as soon as possible.”
From the frontlines of the Principality of Ackerman, it had already taken more than half a month to transport the body back.
…
The seven personal guards carried Pegira’s coffin, following Cicero and Agamemnon into the castle. Soon, the castle raised its flag.
A red banner, trimmed in golden cloth, bore the image of a mighty dragon, with a ruby embedded at its chest.
By the time the Morning Star was about to set, Cicero left the fortress carrying a Bone Shovel. He had accepted Bishop Marl’s invitation to go to the Diocese of Adrian and help build a Magic Academy.
Agamemnon, meanwhile, led the seven personal guards to the Senate.
The news of Pegira’s death had already spread. Bevan and Julian, who had been working outside, had returned early to await the Church’s decision.
Though the Senate had, over the past two years, exerted immense pressure on the southern nobles, they now could only wait quietly for the Church’s word.
This left Puniel, who was basking in the praises of conquering the Principality of Corlay, and Bevan, who manipulated southern nobles with merchants and gold, feeling uneasy.
Yet, upon seeing the seven personal guards, they fell silent.
These seven were no weaker than Knight Wolf. Each of them possessed a Holy Relic and commanded between five hundred and a thousand elite warriors, many of whom were knights themselves.
Thus, Bevan swore firmly that he would take responsibility for informing the southern nobles.
As for the nobles of Ackerman, Agamemnon instructed the seven personal guards to rest for three days before leading knight-level warriors to personally deliver notifications to the remaining nobles.
“And as for those warriors, I ask Councilor Julian to arrange matters for them,” Agamemnon said. “Conduct their rank assessments, listen to their wishes—whether to return to their homelands or settle in the Diocese of York. They are all meritorious men who once fought alongside Lord Pegira.”
Julian glanced at the seven personal guards, whose expressions varied but who raised no objections. Finally, he replied, “Understood. I will see to each of them properly.”
Agamemnon then turned to Piero and said, “You know these seven men, and their families are still present. During these three days of rest, please brief them on the changes in the Diocese of York.”
And also let them understand who was now in charge.
Piero silently added this unspoken meaning in his heart, but aloud he replied calmly, “Very well. I shall host a banquet in their honor, welcoming these seven heroes home.”
Then Agamemnon turned to Jeffrey and said, “The rewards due to those warriors must also be prepared. I ask you, Councilor Jeffrey, to coordinate the gold for distribution.”
Jeffrey replied with a smile, “Of course. As you said, they are men of merit.”
Next, Agamemnon looked at Puniel and said, “Councilor Puniel, congratulations to you, and to Gregor as well, on forming an alliance through marriage with a viscount family’s noble daughter.”
Puniel’s face showed no embarrassment. Laughing heartily, he said, “It was the children’s choice. They are in love. As a father, all I can do is support them.”
Agamemnon smiled and said, “Your household may be busy with the wedding, and I should not trouble you, but as the general who conquered the Principality of Corlay, you must remember that land now lies vacant, awaiting its rightful lord. Lord Pegira had not yet claimed the title of Grand Duke before his death.”
“Indeed, most of the lands of the Three Principalities already belong to lords. A lord who controls such vast territory ought to be called king, and the lands beneath a king must naturally be enfeoffed to lords. Therefore, for future enfeoffment to proceed smoothly, we must compile all conquered lands of the Three Principalities of Greenwood into a single map, under the name of the Kingdom of Lundex. Do you not agree?”
Agamemnon’s words left Puniel momentarily blank.
Those were the lords’ lands. Was Agamemnon declaring that the Church would now replace the authority of the lords to grant them?
So…
Puniel’s gaze trembled slightly. He looked at the seven personal guards standing nearby. Their expressions were calm, as though Agamemnon’s words carried the very authority of Lord Pegira.
Then he turned to the other councilors, who were slowly grasping Agamemnon’s intent.
Behind the black veil, Piero’s expression was unreadable. Julian remained calm. Bevan’s face was taut, while Jeffrey’s hands trembled.
Puniel’s smile grew more sincere as he said, “Oh, it is only my child’s marriage. How could that compare to the importance of your matter? I will have the map drawn at once. I swear, not a single parcel of land will be omitted, including Blackrock Point—it too belongs rightfully to the lord’s domain.”
“Excellent.” Agamemnon nodded. Then, glancing at the councilors, he added, “The coronation of the Bishop is less than two months away. If there are any issues with these tasks, please contact me without delay.”
The councilors understood his meaning at once. They quickly nodded, promising to handle everything, then rose to leave.
But as they were about to depart, Agamemnon said, “Administrator Piero, please stay behind.”
The other four councilors paused briefly, then left the Senate as though they had heard nothing.
Piero simply stopped, looking at Agamemnon.
Even with his steady temperament, he could not help but feel stirred upon realizing Agamemnon intended to enfeoff lands.
When the Senate finally grew quiet, Agamemnon said, “You were appointed by the lord to manage the territory’s affairs. During your tenure, I hope you will remain diligent and faithful.”
Piero could no longer remember whether the lord had charged him with managing only the Diocese of York’s affairs or all affairs of the lord’s territory. But since Agamemnon was young, with a sharp memory, Piero felt certain the original command must have been the latter.
So he said, “This is my duty. I will manage it well.”
Agamemnon nodded and continued, “Your merits will surely be remembered by the lord’s heir.”
Though Piero did not even know who the heir was, he believed Agamemnon, a priest, would not lie. Thus he suppressed his excitement and replied, “Yes, it must surely be a wise heir.”
Agamemnon then addressed the seven personal guards in Piero’s presence: “I will honor my agreement with him, as well as your requests. Your lands shall be enfeoffed along the border. However, your exact titles and domains will be determined only when this campaign is truly complete, based on your merits.”
The second personal guard spoke: “The campaign has already ended.”
Agamemnon replied, “No, not yet. Much of the land of the Three Principalities of Greenwood is still occupied by the Fishmen.”
The second guard narrowed his eyes, staring at Agamemnon.
Agamemnon met his gaze calmly.
Piero’s legs trembled slightly at the side.
Finally, the second guard sighed and said, “So this is the courage of the Church, which inherits the will of our lord until a new master appears.”
Agamemnon merely smiled.
The second guard said, “Since the campaign is not yet over, then let the rewards wait until it is.”
Agamemnon bowed slightly, then turned to Piero and said, “During their days of rest, I must trouble you to treat them well.”
Agamemnon had already laid out the relationship with these guards so clearly before him that Piero naturally would not attempt to reinterpret it on his own.